TEN REASONS
Chapter 11 – Why I hit Meyong Keto
Mariah's POV
"I have a very important question to ask and I couldn't think of a better time to ask it with you, all of my friends here…"
Ray's dismissal and false accusations of where my love lay shattered my strength into a million little pieces. Tears plummeted down from my cheeks as a result of a sheer emotion overload. Hate, anger, frustration, hurt and failure bubbled through my veins, pumping at a rapid pace. I could feel the pulse present in my fists. My self control hanging by a thread, the thread straining at some unknown weight, prepared to snap at any giving moment; along with my surging temper.
"Emily Reid, would you grant me the favour of becoming my wife and marry me?"
The noise on the roof silenced into a deathly quiet. My own soggy eyes widening as my own emotions stayed on hold anticipating Emily's answer to Max's proposal.
"Yes!"
Her voice squeaky in shock, pierced through the tense atmosphere, and followed by a huge round of applause, courtesy of the crowd. I smiled. I couldn't help but feel happy for Em, besides I prefer to dive in Em's blissful day then dwell in the torment of my own. Besides I could always cry later. Hunting for the tissues I ripped them out, dried my tear stained eyes, thanked god for waterproof mascara and dared my way back to the roof, only after blinking my eyes hurriedly so it didn't appear I had been crying. Though at the same time, I wanted to go up there ball my eyes out and tell them how big of a bitch Meyong is. Realising my selfish behaviour and the minute probability of me actually doing what I had suggested, I tossed it to the back of my mind. For starters, it wouldn't be fair on Max and Emily to trash their celebrations.
Congratulations were flung from every direction to where Max and Emily were standing, the blondes arms wrapped around her as she rested her head on his shoulder in contentment, a huge grin plastered on both their gleeful faces.
Squeezing my way over to the newly engaged couple, I wiped my eyes with the back of the arm, making sure all evidence of my tears was gone. Lor was crying too, but out of sheer happiness. She was laughing at the same time too, making her sound like a drowning goose. I suppose I could use that for an excuse if I am queried about crying.
"Congratulations you two!" I purred.
"Thanks!" Max beamed.
"Oh my god! You so have to be one of my bridesmaids!" Emily squealed in excitement her tone all animated and not so analytical for once as she broke away from Max's grasp.
"You sure?" I staggered, taken back from her awfully generous offer. I mean we've always been… well been friends for a long time and use to be pen pals until we both became lazy but we not like best friends. Don't get me wrong I'd love to be a bridesmaid at her wedding but I don't won't her to just ask me as we've been close recently and then regret her decision.
"Yeah, positive." She assured as if she had never been more certain about anything in her life.
"Well yes then!" I beamed my voice going all bubbly. Oh my god I get to be a bridesmaid!
"Can I have your attention please?" Allan hollered through the microphone.
"Sweet another proposal!" An intoxicated Michael shouted. Gaining a collective 'Aye' from other males under the influence.
"Nah, a toast. To my best friend Max and his soon to be wife, Emily. May your marriage last an eternity."
"Aye!" roared the crowd, particularly the intoxicated males.
"And your honeymoon too!" yelled Michael spiritedly.
"Aye!" they hollered again.
"Will someone shut him up!" Lor demanded.
"Aye!" cheered everyone, including Michael himself. Lor marched irately to Michael's location and attempted to dismiss him to the lower floor, with the unhelpful help of everyone cheering behind her. She finally managed to get him down there, only after agreeing with him she'd stay with him. The music rose again, this time a nice slow song. Everyone coupled off; I scanned the crowd for a familiar navy locked man, only to turn around to a tap on my shoulder.
"Looking for me?" he whispered into my ear.
"Perhaps. It depends on if you are going to dance with me?" I reply teasingly, my heart swelling in my chest. I don't know how he does it but whenever I look at him he makes me smile. And when he talks to me, especially whispering into my ear makes me lose myself.
"Well I can't say no to a pretty girl," he grins with a jovial nod, wrapping an arm around my waist and taking my hand in his. I reply by resting my untaken hand in the space between his neck and collarbone. We revolve slowly round the floor, at ease in each other's embrace, every so often catching each other's glance resulting in a smile tugged from our lips.
"How did your talk with Ray go," he questioned softly.
"Not good," I murmur softy. Ty reeling me in closer at my words, so my head lay on his upper torso. "Can we talk later in private?"
"Yeah, of course."
We danced together for the rest of the evening; forgetting the situation at hand. I spent most of the time contemplating how he became such a great dancer. When the beat picked up, we picked up. Twirling here, dipping there. Exchanging snippets of conversation during each interval where the song ended and another started. In this time I discovered that Hilary had forced him to go to dancing classes with her in preparation of their graduation ball.
All too soon it was late… or is it early? Well it was around two in the morning when the guests started to depart. Soon it was only the handful or so guests crashing at Kai's, Michael included, as he had passed out on the couch and Ray, Kevin and Meyong left at the penthouse. I hid in Ty and mine's room, not wanting to bump into Meyong or Ray for that matter. Tyson had wittily informed them that I was exhausted from the night and fallen asleep.
I sighed deeply as I began the ritual of removing my jewellery and make-up from my face. Tyson was kind of right I was exhausted. Exhausted emotionally. I've gone from crying to laughing, to wanting to punch a hole in the wall. Kicking my shoes off my feet, I thumped the wall. I cringed immediately suspecting I may have scratched the paint work. Fortunately I didn't. Heading back to the mirror I struggled to tame my knotted locks. A figure caught my eye in the mirror.
"A little birdie told me you had a nice little chat with Ray," a raven haired figure, likely to be related to the devil himself shadowed in the reflection. Not wanting to give her the satisfaction of my full attention, I continued brushing my hair. My eyes flashing with pure disgust.
"Since when was Ray a 'little birdie?'" I comment venomously.
"Figure of speech, Mariah. You can drop the princess act now. It's only the two of us here." She suggested coldly, whilst examining her nails as if they were daggers.
"I think you should heed your own advice, Meyong." I counsel.
"Quit the chit chat. It's about time you accept I'm marrying Ray and that's final." She challenged.
"Oh I will accept. Only if you tell Ray all your little secrets. You know it's not wise to hide things from your fiancé. Especially that you goal in life is to marry the future village leader for god only knows reasons." I play along.
"Really?" She replies sardonically.
"Yes really. Read my lips, Meyong Keto, you won't get away with your evil little scheme." I proclaim, brushing my hair just that bit harder.
"Hate to break it to you Mariah but this isn't a fairy tale, the princess doesn't live happily ever after." She spits.
"Glad you know the difference between a fairy tale and real life," I snort.
"Don't be smart with me, Mariah Wong!" she snapped.
"What do you want me to be? Dumb? I guess that would make it so much easier for you to carry out your scheme. And what exactly are your motives to make up this plan huh?" I exclaim, slamming my brush on the dresser and turning to face her.
"What plan?" she shoots defensively.
"Then tell me why you helped Ray escape from my arranged marriage? I know you thought back then that Kevin wanted to marry me." I interrogate.
"To keep you as far away from me as possible." She explains as it is the most obvious thing in the world.
"I think you mean to keep me as far away from Ray as possible," I correct. "I know that you know that I am the only being that can have even the slightest chance I stopping your marriage." I voice.
"And what's wrong with that? Sending the one who wants to stop you from getting married to your love as far away as possible!" her temper rising with every word.
"That must have burned your throat, using the word love. Know what it means? Anything but you!" I struggled to form questions to let her slip her intentions and motives. I prayed silently to have Hilary's interrogating abilities here and now.
"Empty threats, Princess." She bullied her face just centimetres from mine in a failing attempt to intimidate me. For fuck's sake I could feel her breath on my face!
"You know for someone who supposedly hates me, you call me princess. Why is that?" I enquiry.
"Can't you see it? You're spoilt rotten just like a princess." She informs all too willingly.
"Me, spoilt?" I laughed. "All my family is dead, I'm an orphan, our village which I have lived in for all my life is trying to force me to marry someone I don't want too, and therefore I am an outcast and should I ever want to return, will have Galux stripped from me. Where do you get spoilt from that?" I demand incredulously.
"You got to run around and play games when you were little, you got to beyblade, and you even got a bit beast! You had Lee, Kevin, Gary and Ray. I had no one! Then the four of you got to travel around the world and beyblade!" she spat.
"So marrying Ray is like some sick, twisted attempt of getting revenge towards me. It wasn't my fault you didn't beyblade. Grow up Meyong! You can't blame me for your past. If anyone blame your mother!" I snarled predator like.
A quick hand slapped against my cheek. Igniting my cheek on fire.
"Don't talk about my mother like that!" she growled lowly.
My reflexes snapped, punching her in the eye. I am a fighter what was she thinking to strike me? Her hands flung over her left eye has she howled in agony.
"So instead you blame me! So you didn't have to feel guilt stricken about your pathetic mother. Good morning, she wrecked Kevin's life and mine. If I do recall I am the one banished from the village." I roared.
"Say good bye to Ray, princess, cause you'll never see him again!" she spat, swivelling on her heel and departing from the room. A sick sense of satisfaction flowed through my veins at the black eye. My angelic side lectured me how I shouldn't stoop to her level whilst my devilish side congratulated me and reassured if she filed a complaint she hit me first. Besides Hilary will be on my side is she wants to pull out the big guns. Amen for lawyer friends.
Ten reasons why I hit Meyong Keto
1. She's a bitch
2. She's the devil's heir to the throne
3. She hit me first
4. Her schemes got me shunned from my own village
5. She's wreck my life as well as Kevin's and Ray's
6. She needed a reality check
7. If you squint in a dull light I swear she has 'sock me' tattooed across her forehead
8. Karma – what goes around comes around, I just helped it along
9. She's blamed me for every problem in her life
10. I always thought the panda look would suit her…